REVIEW: GAMA BOMB – “Sea Savage”

Gama Bomb, a fun-loving thrash revival band from Ireland, combines a whimsical sense of humor with some visceral old-school thrash metal. Their album art and lyrical themes pay tribute to 80s pop culture in all its retro, neon glory. The stories they narrate through their music include thrillers, monster tales, and an occasional socially relevant issue. This unique blend of thrash metal with fun storytelling has helped them carve out an interesting niche for themselves.

As the name of the album suggests, ‘Sea Savage’ narrates a maritime horror story starring the members of the band. Its ghastliness is accentuated by the frantic pace of the music. Beastly solos run along with a speedy guitar-driven rhythm and a dynamic drum mix. The band draws from the styles of  NWOBHM bands, including a  Maiden-esque galloping rhythm and guitar passages reminiscent of Judas Priest.

From a lyrical standpoint, the most entertaining song on the album is “Miami Supercops”. This song parodies the 80s detective movie of the same name. Vocalist Philly Byrne deftly varies his pitch and intonation according to the changes in the storyline. His talent as a narrator is also prominent in the song “Sheer Khan”.

The music has also been produced well. The crystal clear production allows the sharpness of the music to shine. One possible flaw, however, is that vocals sort of getting lost amongst the guitars, which is a shame, because the lyrical content is cheeky.

In conclusion, ‘Sea Savage’ is bold, instrumentally sophisticated music accompanied by playful lyrics and singing. Although it is heavily influenced by classic metal bands, its approach towards thrash metal is unique.